"You need to take her away for some hours, and distract her so that I can plan my surprise here." He said and Zevah looked confused. She thought he would ask her about Srishti's likes, dislikes and all that but he did nothing that sort of.

"Also don't take her to the orphanage. Take her somewhere else." He added and on getting no reply from her, he looked at Aditya who only shrugged.

Annoyed, he clicked his fingers infront of her face, bringing her out of her trance.

"I hope I don't need to repeat myself." Sahil said in a pissed tone and Zevah rolled her eyes.

"Whatever. But what are you planning? Atleast let us know." She was curious but he wasn't going to let her know. He only gave her a smirk and she scoffed.

Aditya was enjoying the show until Sahil asked him to accompany them ladies.

"What the hell! Why should I go with them? No, I'll stay here and help you." He said stubbornly and crossed his hands. Sahil curled his fists and was ready to punch him but they heard Srishti's voice.

Sahil froze as he sensed her behind him but didn't turn around.

"What are you guys doing?" She asked looking at Zevah in particular. Zevah immediately glared at Sahil and walked towards Srishti.

"I was getting done with what was left incomplete earlier. Warning your husband to stay away from you." She spoke with such hatred that Sahil and Aditya believed her words as well.

"Now let's leave." Zevah said and Srishti frowned.

"What? Where?"

"Srishti, I know you want to be away from here but it's only because of Ayaansh you are hesitating. Trust me, he'll be fine for a few hours. Till then, Aditya and I can take you somewhere where you can spend a little time with yourself." She said softly and even though Sahil knew she was saying all of this to take her away, every word she spoke was like an arrow piercing his heart.

Srishti looked hesitant as she fidgeted with her hands. It was true she wanted to get away from this place or rather the man who right now didn't even have the courage to look at her but she was still skeptical about Ayaansh.

After she had left him that night, she didn't have the heart to do it again even though it was only for a few hours.

"Stop thinking too much, Srishti. Ayaansh will be fine, infact he'll be getting more time to spend with his Dadda who is at home today. So don't worry and let's go." Aditya chipped in, assuring her and she looked at him.

Aditya blinked his eyes and she slowly nodded, biting her lower lip causing Zevah to gasp dramatically.

"You are my bestfriend. Not his. Stop stealing her away." She narrowed her eyes at Aditya, pulling Srishti close to her whereas he only smirked in response.

Srishti chuckled seeing the duo and it made Sahil feel all the more guilty. He couldn't do that even if he tried, make her laugh.

"Okay, let's go then."

────────

It had been four hours and Srishti wanted to go back to her baby but the two idiots weren't allowing her and she was growing suspicious plus annoyed.

"That's it. I'm leaving." She announced and stood up to leave when Aditya panicked and nudged Zevah to stop her.

"Srishti, listen─" Zevah tried but one look from her and she zipped her mouth shut.

Luckily, Aditya's phone pinged and he sighed in relief when Sahil said they could let her come back.

"Okay bye, Srishti." He said happily and Zevah looked at him in disbelief whereas Srishti narrowed her eyes at him.

"What are you guys hiding?" She asked and they froze.

"Ayaansh must be waiting for you. Please go." Aditya begged and as much as she wanted to stay and find out, he was right. So she thought of dealing with them later.

Once she reached, she heard some commotion going inside which made her frown. She opened the door and heard a shout,

"No wait, not like that─"

Sahil froze seeing her at the door whereas Srishti stared around dumbfounded. Her eyes landed on Sahil and a minute later she burst out laughing. Although it annoyed him but her laugh was enough to let it go. Everybody else joined her in the laughing spree whereas Sahil grumbled under his breath trying to get rid of the confetti which now covered him.

She felt a tug on her dress and looked down only to find Tina grinning up at her. There was a letter in her hand which made her frown as she took it from her. Tina once again tugged on her dress and asked her to bend down, which she did, and a kiss landed on her cheek which made her smile.

"This kiss was not from me." She giggled and ran away before Srishti could say anything.

She stood up and opened the letter,

I know I don't deserve you but I promise I'll keep trying to earn your forgiveness even if it takes years.

Her eyes met his and she could see the anticipation in them clearly. Crushing the paper in her hand, she threw it away and watched as his face fell. She ignored the pain and looked around with a smile. All her orphanage kids were here and they looked happy and she knew it was all his doing.

"Srishti, your house is sooo big." One of them commented excitedly and she chuckled. Watching the kids running and playing around was fascinating but what was more attractive was watching him surrounded by kids and trying to pay attention to all of them patiently.

Her heart warmed at the sight and she sighed. She looked for Ayaansh and found him sitting on the couch, beside Sahil. He was leaning on his Dadda with his concentration on ─wait, is that a phone?

She gasped and quickly walked towards him and without a second thought she hit Sahil on his shoulder.

"Sahil, what is this? Why did you give him your phone?" She hissed angrily and he stared at her dumbfounded.

"What? When did I─" He turned and found Ayaansh fidgeting with his phone which made him frown. When did he give him his phone?

"I don't care. Now you figure out how to take it from him." She sent him a warning look and he rolled his eyes before he turned to Ayaansh and tapped his little arm.

Ayaansh looked at his Dadda who kept his palm in front of him. Staring at his palm for two seconds, he went back to the device in his hand making his Mumma glare at Dadda.

"Ayaansh, buddy give it to Dadda." Sahil tried once again and pulled the phone from his hand which caused him to let out a cry. He tried to reach for it but Sahil already pocketed it before he could take it.

Ayaansh stared at Sahil with his big, innocent eyes now filled with tears before he crawled away from him and cried. Srishti picked him up immediately and he hid his face in her shoulder. Sahil let out a helpless sigh at the turn of events.

Great! First, Srishti and now Ayaansh. Just what he needed.

"Party without me?" Everybody screamed on seeing Aditya and Zevah at the entrance and Sahil felt a lot relieved because he could finally focus on the two people who were upset with him without worrying about the kids.

Aditya found Srishti and Ayaansh in a corner and Sahil staring at the two with a helpless face. He snickered before walking towards him and tapping him on the shoulder.

"What did you do now?" He pointed at the duo and held back a laugh when Sahil glared at him.

"Nothing. Take care of the kids." He gritted out before standing up and moving away from there.

Sahil took a deep breath, as if preparing himself for what was about to come. He took a step in Srishti's direction but stopped when someone held his hand. Frowning, he turned to find a small boy staring up at him with a matching frown.

Amusement took over his features when the boy raised his hands asking him to pick him up. Hiding his smile, he did as told and picked him up in his arms.

"Are you upset?" The boy asked him and he smiled at how innocent the question was.

"I'm not, but she is." He pointed at Srishti to which the boy's face lit up.

"Srishti? Do you love her?" He asked and Sahil froze at the question.

"You know," He started again forgetting about the previous question which relieved Sahil as he relaxed and continued to listen,"whenever any of us would be upset, Srishti would give us a lot of hugs and kisses. It always worked. You should do the same." Sahil chuckled at his innocent suggestion and he ruffled his hair.

"That is a very helpful suggestion. Thank you ─" He stopped realising he never knew his name.

"Neil." He grinned.

"Thank you, Neil. I will surely try that." He smiled and gave him a hi-fi before setting him down. Neil ran away immediately and Sahil couldn't wipe off the smile from his face.

"Who are you? What did you do to my bestfriend?" Of course the moment had to be ruined by the one and only, Aditya Singhania.

"Fuck off." He said bluntly and heard a gasp.

His eyes widened when he realised it was Srishti and not Aditya who gasped.

This time, Aditya didn't control and burst out laughing, looking like a maniac. Srishti gave a final glare to Sahil before walking away. He groaned loudly and felt like pulling at his hair because nothing seemed to go his way.

With a murderous look, he charged at Aditya who screamed like a girl and ran away. The kids cheered as the two played tom and jerry whereas Zevah gave them a disapproving look.

"These two are worse than the kids."

────────

When the kids finally left and thankfully along with Aditya and Zevah, Sahil fell on the couch, tired and feeling annoyed. The whole purpose of bringing the kids here was to make Srishti happy and instead he made her more mad with Ayaansh being upset like a cherry on top.

He wasn't liking this at all and so he got up and left for his room.

He found Srishti nowhere and realised that she must be in her room so made a run in that direction.

The sight there made him smile but at the same time his clenched knowing he couldn't be a part of the moment.

Ayaansh was sitting on Srishti's knees, which were pulled up to her chest, she held him by his waist and moved her legs sideways making him laugh. It was like a ride for him and his laugh made her laugh as well as she continued to do the same until he was laughing crazy. (A/N - I hope y'all can imagine this scene the way I described it.)

Not wanting to disturb them, he turned around to leave when her voice stopped him.

"You can come in, if you want."

She was still looking at Ayaansh and smiling but he did enter inside anyways.

"I just came to say sorry." If it was before, she would've gasped because the Sahil Malhotra was saying 'sorry' but now she just didn't care.

"For what?" She still didn't look at him and it frustrated him.

"For cursing in front of kids." He mumbled and now this was surprising for her.

"And?"

"And for upsetting you." She stared at him whereas he did not look away wanting her to see the sincerity in his eyes.

"And?" She challenged.

He took slow steps in her direction, never breaking the eye contact. Ayaansh was now distracted by the button on her top as he played with it, not interested in his parent's talks.

"For being a jerk." Srishti clenched the bedsheet in her right fist as he stood at an arms distance from her.

"And?"

"For failing to be a good father." That caused her to freeze and glare at him. He looked away this time and refused to accept anything else.

"Sahil Malhotra." She gritted and he immediately looked at her when she used his full name.

"NO parent is perfect and everyone makes mistakes. So DON'T give me that bullshit just because of what happened today." She ordered him and he chuckled making her more angry.

"What's so funny?" She snapped lowly not wanting to scare Ayaansh.

"Well, you just cursed in front of our son." He smirked and she flushed in embarrassment on realising that he was right.

Ayaansh finally noticed his father's presence and leaned towards him, babbling something as Sahil took him in his arms being surprised.

"He's not upset?" Srishti rolled her eyes at his stupid question.

"He's a year old, Sahil. Do you expect him to remember everything and hold grudges?" She gave him a sarcastic smile.

"I wish you were like our son as well." He mumbled under his breath and Ayaansh giggled as if he understood his father. Srishti narrowed her eyes at the father-son duo who were now grinning at each other.

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